A Fatal Collection (A Keepsake Cove Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Maryland
Midnight Ink (November 8, 2017)
Paperback: 264 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738752198
E-Book ASIN: B01MR8L4IS
Callie Reed makes a long overdue visit to her aunt Melodie, who lives in a fairy-tale cottage in quaint Keepsake Cove, home to a bevy of unique collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Just as they’re beginning to reconnect, Callie discovers her aunt’s body on the floor of her music box shop. Grief-stricken, Callie finds she can’t accept Melodie’s death being called accidental. How could her strong and healthy aunt take such a fatal fall? And why was she there in the middle of the night?
As Callie searches for the truth, signs seem to come from her late aunt through a favorite music box, urging Callie on. Or are they warnings? If Callie isn’t careful, she could meet a similar deadly fate amid Melodie’s collection.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is an excellent start to what I hope will be a long-running series.
The story takes place in Keepsake Cove on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Callie Reed’s Aunt Melodie owns a music box shop and a cute little cottage there. Callie arrives for a short visit that turns into so much more after her aunt suffers a tragic fall. Melodie’s death is ruled accidental, but something just seems off. Her aunt was healthy and vital. She knew the layout of her store even in the dark, and why was she there in the middle of the night? Driven by a music box that mysteriously plays without being wound and just a need to find the truth, Callie keeps her eyes and ears open, asks some careful questions, and tries to not end up joining her aunt in the great beyond, before she can truly be at home in Keepsake Cove.
What an amazing setting for a story/series. Mary Ellen Hughes creates mind-blowing imagery with her words. Each shop and cottage, the paths between, the music boxes and other keepsakes, come alive through her words. She takes us there and immerses the reader in everything that is happening.
The characters come alive too. They already have great depth. I feel we will get to know them even better as the series continues. I do wish Callie would have had more time with her aunt, but we know that she was a genuine and caring person with many friends that now will take Callie under their wing. All the shopkeepers are unique in personality and their wares. A tight-knit community, most working to continue on the cove’s success. You always have a few dust-ups, maybe even murder, in a place like this, that keep life interesting.
The plot of the story is unique in that there are no police scurrying around trying to catch a killer. They believe is was a terrible accident. Callie does investigate quietly and has several suspects, but she keeps them to herself, until the exciting climax where all is revealed. I found this to be delightful and refreshing.
As a collector myself you could take me away to Keepsake Cove any day of the week. This visit ended much too soon. They are still shops to explore and people to meet. You just know Callie’s going to get herself into something. I am excited about this series to continue. Mary Ellen, my virtual bags are packed and I am ready to escape to the cove whenever you are. Please don’t make me wait too long.
About The Author
Mary Ellen Hughes is the bestselling author of the Pickled and Preserved Mysteries (Penguin), the Craft Corner Mysteries, and the Maggie Olenski Mysteries, along with several short stories. A Fatal Collection is her debut with Midnight Ink. A Wisconsin native, she has lived most of her adult life in Maryland, where she’s set many of her stories. Visit her at www.MaryEllenHughes.com.
Author Links
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Praise for A Fatal Collection (A Keepsake Cove Mystery)
by Mary Ellen Hughes
This one has so many elements that I love including a community of shop keepers with specialty items, making them a small town to themselves. The shops have personalities as do the shopkeepers.
~Laura’s Interests
Keepsakes can have great emotional value and connection to an event or person. And some collectors are downright… obsessed! A Fatal Collection is downright enjoyable and holds great promise for the future.
~Back Porchervations
The mystery solving has a different route to it with no police involved at all which was a refreshing change. I highly recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
This first book in the Keepsake Cove mystery series is off to a promising start. This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed her writing style.
~Bookworm Cafe
A Fatal Collection is my kind of comfortable cozy mystery. . .
~The Power of Words
A FATAL COLLECTION will be a keepsake of mine for a very long time to come!
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews
“A Fatal Collection” was enjoyable and engaging with a wonderful setting and cast of characters.
~Bea’s Book Nook
Overall, Callie and Keepsake Cove are going to become instant hits with cozy readers. . . It was a delight to read this book.
~Bibliophile Reviews
I was immediately enchanted with the town of Keepsake Cove and the inhabitants. I loved all of the specialty shops with their cutesy names and their even cuter shop owners.
~The Montana Bookaholic
This was a delightful cozy that was really enhanced by how charming the community of Keepsake Cove was.
~That’s What She’s Reading
I’m totally in love with the characters from Keepsake Cove. They’re well-rounded, developed characters that seem to have a complexity that we barely scratched the surface of in this book.
~Valerie’s Musings
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I would if the cover contains clues.
This sounds like it’s going to be a great series. Really looking forward to reading.
I really love books about collecting so a must read for me
I will be looking for this one when I get to go book shopping again!